Maverick is here! My birth story

Whew! It has been a long week... Let me start on Sunday...

On Sunday November 14 I was a crazy person. I was emotional and I suddenly felt like everything had to be done RIGHT NOW! I feel so bad for Christopher because I know I was unreasonable... but looking back now, I'm glad we got everything done on Sunday.

I went to bed Sunday night just like any other night. At about 4 am, I woke up and thought I had to go to the bathroom. But I didn't quite make it to the bathroom. So, I was standing there wondering if I had peed myself or if my water had broken. As I am standing there trying to decide if I should wake up Christopher, it was running down my leg, so I knew it was time. Christopher was in a deep sleep and I was worried about waking him so suddenly. So I went and tapped him on the shoulder and said "are you asleep?" He said, "Are you having contractions." And I said, "No, but wake up." He said "YOUR WATER BROKE DIDN'T IT!" So much for waking him up calmly. I called my midwife and she told me to put a towel between my legs and go back to sleep. (Like that was really gonna happen) Christopher went back to sleep... the man likes his sleep. I watched a little tv, and took a shower. At 6 am, I woke Christopher up and told him it was time to get ready. He made me breakfast, which was yummy by the way. Then we left for the hospital. The bags had already been in the car for weeks, so we were both pretty calm.

We got to the office a little early, so we walked around the hospital a little, which was strange for me because my water had broken, but oh well. We went back Cecily was ready for us. She checked and indeed my water had broken, so she called over to Labor and Delivery and they admitted me. We got into the labor room, they started my IV and put Pitocin in it to make my contractions start.  At first they were fine, but soon they were getting stronger and stronger. I was 3 centimeters dilated...

I asked for the epidural pretty early, even though I was worried it would make the labor stall. But Cecily convinced me that if I was anxious it would stall anyway, so I went ahead and had it. The epidural wasn't as bad as I thought, it was over very fast. And I felt less pain almost immediately, which is always a good thing. It was a pretty light epidural, I could still move my legs, but I couldn't feel the contractions.

Cecily checked me again and I was still at a 3, so she mentioned the dreaded c word- c section- but we decided to give it 2 more hours on the medicine to see if I made any progress. Luckily, she stayed in there they whole time and talked with me and my family. I am so glad she was there, she made me feel so much better and more relaxed.

In 2 hours she checked me again and there was no change, so there was no use in waiting. My water had broken and Maverick had to come out, so c-section it was for me. I was remarkably calm. I really felt as if it wasn't real, it wasn't really happening. Nana and Christopher were both pretty nervous, but I was cool as a cucumber.

They took me back and Christopher had to wait in the room. I'm not really sure why he didn't get to come, but I really wish he had been there! When they opened the doors and I was in the operating room, I had a moment of panic- I guess I realized maybe it was happening after all. I needed a new epidural, so they had me sit up. The panic went away and I went right back to calm. I guess it was my defense mechanism because I really, really didn't want a c-section.

They let Christopher in the room while they were doing the second epidural. The second one was MUCH stronger than the first and I almost immediately couldn't move my lower half. The strange thing is, I could still feel things, just not pain. A nurse was standing next to me, and I could feel the pressure of her against my leg. I also felt when they took the baby out, but it was not painful at all.

When they took the baby out, Christopher got to go over and see him. He came back over to me and said "He is SO CUTE." He was so proud. He went back over to Maverick and got to put his first diaper on. When they weighed him, I heard people say "oh" and Christopher came over and said "10 pounds, 6 ounces." And that he was what they call sunny side up- meaning his face was up instead of down. That is why I needed the epidural so early, because he was putting a lot of pressure on my back. Thank GOD that I had a c-section because I would not have wanted to go thru hours of back labor to deliver a 10 and a half pound baby! God was looking out for me for sure!

They brought him over to me to see, but I wasn't really able to get a good look. Christopher held him next to me while they finished the surgery and they they wheeled me into the recovery room. I breastfed him for almost an hour before my family came in.

This is getting very long, so I will save my hospital stay for another blog :-)

40 weeks!

Ok, now that I am officially 10 months pregnant (AHH!) I thought I would take this last opportunity to post some belly pictures. At the beginning of my pregnancy, I didn't really do them because I wasn't really looking pregnant. I was able to fake the it for a few months by wearing the right clothes. Now, I think its pretty obvious... 

Just for the record, I can still fit into my regular jeans. I finally had to take my wedding ring off about a week ago because of the swelling. 

But anyway- here I am~ 

This is my tummy at 40 weeks. Please excuse me, at 10 months pregnant, I have completely given up on my hair and makeup :-) 

This is the one and only picture of my bare tummy. It took my almost 6 months to even look pregnant, now, there is no denying it. Here it is, in all its glory- stretch marks, pale, b shape. I'm proud of it! 

This is my view. From up here, I have looked pregnant much longer... my feet are in fact down there somewhere. I didn't really have a great view of them before I was pregnant. 

Can't sleep...

I only slept about 3 hours last night, so you would think I would be exhausted tonight. No! I have so much anxiety, anticipation, nervousness... and my brain is running a mile a minute. It will not shut off long enough to allow me to rest. Also, it is impossible to get comfortable, and my body is wiggly...

My due date is 2 days away. I have tomorrow, and Wednesday and then Thursday is my due date. So I guess there is still time for him to come before, but it really seems to my like I am going to go over. After so many people told me there was no way. That's the last time I listen to ladies that think they know from just looking...

I go to see my midwife tomorrow, and as always I'm hoping she just sends me right over to the hospital. I have hoped that the last 3 times though... but I know eventually this baby has to come out. Doesn't he?

I am getting really cranky. Christopher has been a really good sport about it up until now, but I know that won't last much longer. But it's only been for the last few days. Some pregnant ladies are cranky the whole time, so I keep telling him he should consider himself lucky. :-) I haven't sent him out in the middle of the night to get any strange food either, so I guess he is lucky. This evening I was wanting some puffy Cheetos and I was going to send him after some, but he just happened to have some in his truck. I'm not really sure why he is stashing junk food in his truck, but it worked out for me. lol

I'm really freaking out about not know when I am going to go into labor. It could be tonight, tomorrow or never and I have to be induced. I hope I don't have to use the induction that is scheduled for me... that's 8 days away and I really don't want to be induced because I do not want to have a c section.

Sigh. I really feel like I should try to get some sleep, but my body and brain just won't cooperate...

Impatient.

Being pregnant, for the most part, has not been that bad. I do not have a lot of the complaints that other ladies have. I actually feel pretty good, especially now that I am not working. But, what is driving me crazy is I'm ready to see him and hold him and decide whose nose he has and see what color hair he has and all that fun stuff. We waited SO long to get pregnant, I'm just ready to hold my baby now.

I went to the midwife yesterday, and there was no change. I'm still at a 1. :( Each week, when I go, I hope she tells me its time now, so maybe next week. :-) Next week is actually my due date. I guess I shouldn't complain, I'm not over due yet. But, luckily, I won't get too overdue because she went ahead and scheduled an induction for Wednesday, November 17, 2010... just in case we need it. Apparently, at Baylor Dallas you have to schedule it two weeks ahead of time because the schedule gets full. BUT, that is still two weeks away, so hopefully he will be here by then.

I'm so glad he is going to be born in fall! I love fall, the colors and the smells and just the general feeling. And of course the food. :-) I love all thinks pumpkin flavored or pumpkin scented. It gives you a warm fuzzy feeling. I wish the retail stores wouldn't skip over Thanksgiving and go right to Christmas. I love Christmas time too, but I would like to enjoy my fall with no Christmas Carols :-)